Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan claimed that he was being denied basic human rights in jail.
In an interview to a foreign publication, the former prime minister alleged that he was being “treated like a terrorist”.
The rare interview was conducted through his lawyers from behind bars.
The PTI founder has been behind bars for almost a year since his conviction in three cases – the Toshakhana reference, the cipher case, and the Iddat case. His spouse Bushra Bibi is also detained.
Imran Khan was later acquitted in all the cases before being rearrested again by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a fresh Toshakhana case, leaving his possible release from prison hanging in the balance.
“I am confined in a 7ft by 8ft death cell, typically reserved for terrorists to ensure they have no contact with anyone,” he said in the interview given to a foreign publication.
“It is solitary confinement with barely any space to move,” said Khan who added that he was under strict surveillance all the time.
He said in the interview that his party secured a significant majority of approximately 175 seats, not the 93 that were officially acknowledged after the Feb 8 elections.
According to Khan, he spends most of the time in future planning as he will be back soon.
“Despite being caged, the entire country looks to me for hope and resilience. Most importantly, my prayers keep me steadfast, my belief in God assures me that justice will prevail over tyranny,” he said.
